Velocipede



(No Model.) Q 3 SheetsSheet 1.

S.'ELLIOTT.

VBLOGIPEDE.

No. 442,663. Patented Dec. 16, 1890.

3 SheetsSheet 2. S. ELLIOTT.

(No Model.)

VELOGIPEDE.

Patented Dec. 16, 1890.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

S. ELLIOTT.

No Model.)

VELOGIPEDE.

Patented Dec. 16, #55

Ways, 7

NiTnD STATES FATEN'I FFICE.

STERLING ELLIOTT, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 442,663, datedDecember 16, 1890',

Application filed July 16, 1888- Serial No. 280,021. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STERLING ELLIOTT, of Newton, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusettshave invented an Improvement inVelocipedes, of which the following description,in' connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures onthe drawings representing like parts.

This invention has forits object to improve the construction ofquadricycles.

In accordance with this invention the driving-axle is propelled bydriving mechanism operated by the feet of the rider, such mechanismcomprising a double-cranked axle or shaft having thereon the foot-pedalsand a 1m" circular path of shortest radius. The

brake mechanism comprises brake-shoes adapted to be brought in contactwith or to co-operate with the driving-whee1s,said brakeshoes' beingmoved by a vertically-moving hand-lever connected therewith by intermediate connecting mechanism. The hand-lever for effecting the operationof the brake is designed to be locked when in contact with the wheels bysimply a quarter-turn.

The mechanical construction of many of the parts comprising thedifferent mechanisms are also improved in detail, as will be hereinaftermore fully pointed out.

Figure 1 shows in side elevation a quadricycle embodying this invention;Fig. 2, a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an underside view of the front end of the machine, showing particularly thesteering mechanism; Figs. 4c and 5, enlarged details of the foot-pedals;Fig. 6, a vertical section of one of the frames sup portingabearing-boxfor the cranked axle; Fig. 7, an enlarged sectional detail of the L-pinand seat-support; Fig. 8, a longitudinal section of the pivoted orhorizontally-swinging axle of one of the steeringchain, to be referredto 5 Fig. 11, a sectional detail of the cap which closes the oil-cu p ofthe bearing-box for the cranked axle; Fig. 12, an enlarged detail of thebrake mechanism to be referred to; Figs. 13, 1- 15, and 16, details ofthe brake mechanism to be described; Figs. 17 and 18, details to bereferred to; Fig. 19, a longitudinal section of a portion of one of thehubs of the wheel, and Fig. 20 a view of the interior face of the hub.

The main frame-work consists, essentially, of two parallel side bars acr,one end of each bar resting upon the front axle-tree a and theopposite end resting upon an axle-sleeve a extending parallel with theaxle-tree a The side bars a a, axle-tree, and other parts of the mainframe are made of wood. \Vithin the axle-sleeve a is placed thedriving-axle a, which has fixed to it at each end ratchet-toothed hubsorwheels 80, which are engaged by pawls loosely connected or pivoted tothe interior of the hubs of the wheels a a. -Each hub 25 (see Fig. 19)is bored to receive several plugs 26, which are held pressed against theside of the ratchetwheels 80 by the springs 27, said plugs acting toprevent too free movement of the Wheels independent of theratchet-wheels. A sprocketwheel a is also fixed to the axle a adjacentto the hub of one of the wheels, as a for instance.

Intermediate the length of each side bar a a. a bracket or frame isattached, which bracket or frame consists, essentially, of two metallicplates or forgings b I), (see Fig. 6,) secured one to each side of theside bar, being fixed thereto by a stud b and nut 6 At the lower end ofthe said bracket or frame a strap 0 is secured, as by a bolt 0 and nut 0This strap 0 (see Fig. 12) is attached to .or connected with a rod 0 theopposite end of which rod is screw-threaded and enters aninternallyscrew -threaded eye 0 A bolt 0 passes through the eye 0 andenters a forging or frame 0 on the under side of the side bar, or it maybe the side bar proper. The

bolt 0 holdsthe rod 0 and strap rigidly in position, while it will beseen that by removing the bolt and, rotating the eye 0 the length of therod 0 will be changed, so as to move the strap 0 toward or from thedriving-axle, swinging the bracket or frame on its pivot 11 Abearing-box c of any suitable construction and provided with a flange28, having a slightly-curved face, is placed withinthe. strap 0 and heldby a set-screw a the saidstrap having its interior face slightly curvedto correspond with the face of the flange 28. The bearing-box has anoil-hole 29, (see Fig. 11,) which receives a plug having a springactingsplit shank 30 and a head 31, also, preferably, a longitudinal wick ofabsorbent material. (Not shown.)

A double-cranked axle or shaft 61 is placed between the side bars a a,the ends of said shaft having their bearings in the bearingboxes 0 Asprocket-wheel c is fixed to one end of the shaft (1 in .line with thesprocketwheel a. A chain 0 passes around the sprocket-wheels a c totransmit rotary motion, the tension of the chain being varied by movingthe bracket b b on its pivot by re moving the bolt 0 and turning the eye0. The chain a", whichI prefer to employ, consists of several links 0(see Figs. 9 and 10,) each having an elongated slot or opening 0 throughit and adapted at each end to receive and retain pins 0 The slot or oeningc between the pins 0 is filled with textile, fibrous, or anysuitable material which may become easily saturated with oil. The endsof the pins 0 are rigidly connected with the side plates 0 By this formof chain the pins 0 turn in the links and against the oily surfaces, sothat a self-oiling chain is produced. Foot-pedals cl (1 are looselyconnected or mounted upon the double-cranked shaft d. The pedal which Iprefer to use consists of two like plates 6 e,

screws 2, inclosing the shaft (1. The under or abutting faces of theplates at an intermediate point are counterbored, as at e, and one ofthe plates is provided with an oil-hole a which is normally closed by apivoted cap 6 held down by a spring 6 said cap having a projection 6 bywhich it may be lifted. when desired. The cap a may be suitably padded.The hub of the cap 6 is made angular to present two flat faces, and thespring e normally bears against one side of the said angular hub,pressing the cap against the oil-hole, and when the cap is lifted thespring is compressed to enable the meeting-point of the said fiat facesto pass by it, after which the cap will be held away from the hole bythe same spring which bore against the other face. The other plate, ase, for instance, is grooved longitudinally to present an openingcommunicating with the shaft-receiving recess, which opening is filledwith felt or other suitable oil-containing material.

The mechanism thus far described forms, essentially, the driving orpropelling mechanism of the machine. At the forward end of the machineand upon the ends of the axletree a are pivoted L'-shaped arms or leversplaced reversely and moving in substantially a horizontal plane, andnormally the rearwardly-extended arms 5 6 of the said levers inclinetoward each other out of true parallelism, while the other arms 32 ofthe said levers normally lie in line with each other and with theaxle-tree a said arms serving as the axles, upon which the wheels f fare loosely mounted. As a pivot for the L-shaped levers, I cut away orfork each end of. the axle-tree a (see Fig. 8,) and secure to the underside of the axle-tree at each end, as by a bolt 0, a bracket or frame 0,the web of said bracket or frame entering the recess at the end of thetree and receiving through it a bolt 0 Each bracket or frame has anupper and lower arm 0 0 The lower arm is bored to receive adjustably. apintle 0 and the upper arm is recessed to receive the upper end of aspindle 0 the lower end of said spindle being recessed to receive the.upper end of the pintle 0". The spindle 0 is formed integral with orattached to one arm, as 6, of the L-shaped lever, while the arm 32 ofsaid lever passes through the spindle transversely and is held as by anut 0 The upper portion of the spindle 0 is bored, as at 0 to serve asan oilconveying passage, it communicating at its lower end with thegroove of the axle or arm 32 and at its upper end with an oil-hole 0 Theoil-passage 0 is offset from the oil-hole 0 so as to present to theoil-hole 0 a portion of the upper bearing of the spindle 0 so that theoil may not only pass down through the.

passage 0 but also lubricate the said bearing. A rod f has its hearingsin boxes f secured to the under side of the side bars a a, said rod fbeing made movable transversely thereto and parallel to the axle-tree 0-The arms 5 6 of the L-shaped levers are connected with the rod frespectively by links f f and as said rod f is moved in one or the otherdirection both arms 5 6 will be moved to thereby turn the L-shapedlevers on their pivots, and hence move the front wheels ff on verticalaxes, each of which is at the inside of and at right angles to thecenter of rotation of the said wheels. As the rod f is moved in thedirection indicated by the arrow 8, Fig. 3, the arm 6 will be moved fromits full toward or into its dotted-line position, the path of movementof said arm being nearly parallel to or in line with the direct thrustof the rod or at a slight angle, while the arm 5 will be moved toward orinto its dotted-line position, and its path of movement will be in amuch greater angle with relation to the said movement of the rod f Itwill be seen by reference to the dotted lines referred to that theangular path described by the arm 6 will be less than that describedbythe arm 5, and as the arms 32 of the L-shaped levers upon which thewheels are mounted will be moved correspondingly the wheel f will have agreater movement on its vertical axis than the wheel f with the samecontinuous movement of the rod f when the said rod is moved in thedirection of the arrow 8, referred to; but when said rod is moved in theopposite direction the wheel f will be moved on its vertical axis thegreater number of degrees as compared with that of the wheel f,orprecisely reverse to that above described.

'Oylindricalbearings f are formed asa part of the bearing-boxes f saidbearings f receiving short shafts i,'having at their lower ends toothedwheels 11, which engage each a series of rack-teeth formed upon the rodf near each end. Tubular rods i one at each side of the machine-areconnected at their lower ends with the short shafts 1; by a universaljoint 1 said tubular rods 1' receiving at their upper ends hand-pieces71 which are made adjustable by the set-screws i in usual manner.' Therods 1 pass through bearingsleeves t, which have formed 011 thein ears 1through which pass bolts "i having slotted and grooved heads 2', (seeFigs. 1 and 17,) each of which receives an under plate 11 attached tothe under side of the seat-supporting frame or arms a. Thebearing-sleeve i may be moved back and forth on the under plate 71 as aguide, and may be fixed in any desired position by tightening the nut i1 By this construction it will be seen that by rotating either steeringhandpiece 11 the rod f will be moved and the other hand-piece also movedcorrespondingly; and also it will be seen that the steering hand-piecesi may be adjusted forward and backward at will.

The seat-support 02 consists of two bent arms risingfrom the side bars aa, said arms being supported near their forward ends by verticalbrace-rods a, and having interposed between them a cross-bar 01 Thecross-bar n has a hole through it of an irregular shape or other thanroundsuch, for instance, as to resemble the shape of'an egg. The usualL- pin m circular in cross-section, passes down through the openinginthe cross-bar n (see Fig. 7 and is held in position bya set-screw 01 Byshaping the hole as described and shown the L-pin will be pressed by thesetscrew against the interior wall of the hole and thereby obtain abearingin two points, so that it will be held rigidly. The seat m ismounted upon springs M rising from a base-plate an, attached to abearing-sleeve m, adjustably mounted upon the upper end of the L- Thebrake mechanism herein shown consists of brake-shoes m, one for eachdrivingwheel a a, mounted, respectively, on the lower ends of twoinclined bars, as m m loosely mounted on the ends or shank m of the stud11 (See Fig. 6.) Springs m encircle the hubs of the bars m m thetendency of which is to maintain the said bars in position to keep thebrake-shoes away from the drive-wheels. Rods m m are connected at oneend with the bars m m, near their lower ends, the other end of one ofthe said rods, as m, being connected with one arm, as m of a yoke, andthe other end of the other rod, as m"', being connected by a suitablechain m link m and chain m with the other arm 'm of the saidyoke. Theyoke m a m is attached to one arm, as p, of a bell-crank lever pivotedat p to an arm 9 secured to the upper side of one of the side bars a.The

other arm 19 of the bell-crank lever extends forward, and at its outerend enters a hole out i through the vertical rod p its bearings in asleeve or bracket 19", attached to the under side of the bar a, and aspiral The rod 19 has spring 1) encircles a portion of the rod 19 the itendency of which is to maintain the said rod in its most elevatedposition. through the rod or post p is shaped to present an upper andlower horizontal angular sur- The hole made face, as best shown in Fig.12, each surface comprising two fiat faces, as 50 51, meeting at acentral polnt. By this form the arm 19 entering, as shown, and bearingagainst the lower flat face 51 and the upper fiat face 50, limits theupward'movemcnt of both the rod 19 and arm 19 It will thus be seen thatto apply thebrakes the rod 19 which is supplied at its upper endwitha-suitable hand-piece 19 is depressed and the bell-crank leverturned on its pivot. is provided with a series of teeth, as shown at 13Fig. 14, arranged on the side of the rod, and on the under side of thebracket 19 a The rod 19 near its lower end,

pawl 19 is pivoted, it being pressed by a spring 19 into engagement withthe face of the rod. As the rod is depressed, by givingit aquarter-rotation the pawl 17 will engage one or another of the series ofteeth p fiand thereby lock the said rod depressed.

In order to enable the rod p to be rotated a quarter-revolution, asdescribed,the hole which. receives the arm 19 is cut to present verticalangular faces 53 54. (See Fig. 13.)

3 When the rod p is in its normal position,the

arm bears against the flat faces 53 54, as shown, and when turned itwill bear against the op posing faces. 7

By making the main f rame-work of wood, as described, it is veryelastic, yielding and twisting to compensate for any irregularities inthe road. of

The drive -chain herein shown and described is not herein specificallyclaimed, as

it forms the subject-matter of another appli- I cation, Serial No.314,039.

I claim 1. In a velocipede, the main frame-work, comprising the woodenside bars a a',-the axle-tree a, and the axle-sleeve supporting the saidside bars, and the wooden seat-supporting frame, comprising the woodenbars 1?, combined with the steering rods or bars adjustably connected tothe bars n, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a velocipede, the main frame-work, comprising the wooden side barsa a, supported on the axle-tree a and the axle-sleeve I 0. combined withthe seat-supporting frame,

comprising the wooden arms n, brace-rods n, and cross-bar WP, and thesteering-handles adjustable on the arms 92, substantially as described.

3. In a velocipede, the driving-axle, having thereon at each endratchet-toothed hubs, the wheels mounted on the said axle and havingpawls which engage the teeth of the said ratchet-toothed hubs, combinedwith the spring-controlled plugs which bear frictionally against theside of said ratchet-toothed hubs, substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

4. In ave1ocipede,the double-cranked-axlesupporting frames andbearing-boxes having the rounded flanges 28, combined with the straps 0,rod 0 eye 0 and the fastening, substantially as described.

5. In a velocipede, the foot-pedals composed of two like plates fastenedtogether, each having front and back bars 6 and projections 6 theguide-bars e being shorter than the distance between the projections 6substantially as described.

6. In a velocipede, the foot-pedals composed of the two like platesfastened together, each having the tread-bars e and projections c andcounter-bored interiorly, as shown, one of the said plates having agroove 6' and one of the said plates having an oil-hole closed by aspring-controlled cap a, substantially as described.

7. In a velocipede of the kind described, the steering-wheels, thepivoted L-shaped levers, upon one arm of which the said wheels aremounted, the other arms of said levers inclining toward each other, asdescribed, and connected together to be moved simultaneously in eitherdirection, and the rotatable steering-handles by which said L-shaped le-I vers are moved, substantially as described.

8. In a velocipede, the steering-wheels, and the L-shaped levers pivotedto the axle-tree a combined with the, transversely-movable rod fconnecting one arm of each lever, the toothed Wheel for moving the saidrod, and the rotatable steering-handle for rotating the said toothedwheel, substantially as described. 9. In a velocipede, thesteering-wheels, the L-shaped levers, and the rod f connecting one armof each said leverand having rack-teeth, combined. with two toothedwheels 11, engaging the rack-teeth, two rotatable rods 1?, andhand-pieces, substantially as described.

10. I11 a velocipede, the steering-rod universally connected with thesteering mechanism and adjustable toward and from the rider,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

11. In a velocipede, the steering-rod jointed to the steering mechanismand made movable 13. In a velocipede, two L-shaped levers having arms,as 6 32*,for the steering-wheels, each having the pintle 0 having anoil-passage 0 combined with the bracket 0, having two arms, betweenwhich the pintle has its bearings, one of the said arms having anoilhole communicating with the oil-passage 0 substantially as described.

14. In a velocipede, the brake-shoes supported on pivoted arms, rods formoving said arms, and a bell-crank lever for moving the rods, combinedwith the vertically-movable rod for the said bell-crank lever,substantially as described. 7

15. In av velocipede, the brake-shoes supported on pivoted arms, rodsfor moving said arms, and a bell-crank lever, combined with the"brake-rod having the hole through it shaped as shown and described,whereby vertical movement of said rod is limited, substantially asdescribed.

16. In a velocipede, the brake-rod having a hole through it, as shown,to receive the brakeoperating lever, said hole being so shaped as topermit the rod to be partially rotated,'substantially as described.

17. In a velocipede, the cross-bar or frame having a hole or socket oneof the diameters of which is greater than another, combined with aseat-support circular in cross-section, to enter the said hole orsocket,substantially as described.

18. In a velocipede, the brake-rod movable vertically to'apply thebrake-shoes and having notches at or near its end at one side only,combined with a spring-controlled pawl for engaging said notches to lockthe brake when the rod is turned, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

STERLING ELLIOTT.

IVitnesses:

BERNIOE J. NoYEs, F. L. EMERY.

